Electronic device and note reminder method

ABSTRACT

In a note reminder method, a current location of the electronic device is obtained. When a distance between the current location and a location associated with a note is determined to be less than or equal to a predefined distance, the note reminder is executed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No.104115870 filed on May 19, 2015, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to notes management, andmore specifically relates to a method for executing a note reminderbased on location and an electronic device using the method.

BACKGROUND

A note is a briefly written record that is used to remind somebody to dosomething at a certain time. Generally, when arrival time of the note isrecorded, the user is notified in a predefined way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a hardware environmentfor executing a note reminder system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of function modules of thenote reminder system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for executing a notereminder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, itwill be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfeature being described. Also, the description is not to be consideredas limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may beexaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the presentdisclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, isillustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. Severaldefinitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in thisdisclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and suchreferences mean “at least one.”

Furthermore, the word “module,” as used hereinafter, refers to logicembodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of softwareinstructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example,Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modulesmay be embedded in firmware. It will be appreciated that modules maycomprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and maycomprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays orprocessors. The modules described herein may be implemented as eithersoftware and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type ofnon-transitory computer-readable storage medium or other computerstorage device. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including,but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-endedinclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, seriesand the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a hardware environmentfor executing a note reminder system. The note reminder system 10 isinstalled and run in an apparatus, for example an electronic device 1.In at least one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1includes, but is not limited to, a storage device 11, at least oneprocessor 12, an input/output device 13, and a Global Positioning System(GPS) device 14. The electronic device 1 can be a tablet computer, anotebook computer, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), orother suitable electronic device. FIG. 1 illustrates only one example ofthe electronic device 1; others can include more or fewer componentsthan illustrated, or have a different configuration of the variouscomponents in other embodiments.

The note reminder system 10 can determine whether a distance between acurrent location of the electronic device 1 and a target locationassociated with a note is less than or equal to a predefined distance.And when the distance between the current location and the targetlocation associated with the note is less than or equal to thepredefined distance, the note is shown as reminder for a user.

In at least one embodiment, the storage device 11 can include varioustypes of non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums. For example,the storage device 11 can be an internal storage system, such as a flashmemory, a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage ofinformation, and/or a read-only memory (ROM) for permanent storage ofinformation. The storage device 11 can also be an external storagesystem, such as a hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium.The at least one processor 12 can be a central processing unit (CPU), amicroprocessor, or other data processor chip that performs functions ofthe management system 10 in the electronic device 1. The input/outputdevice 13 can be used by a user to input commands and displayinformation. In the embodiment, the input/output device 13 is a touchscreen. In other embodiments, the input/output device 13 can include aninput device such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel, and anoutput device such as a display screen. The GPS device 14 can provide acurrent location of the electronic device 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the function modules ofthe note reminder system 10. In at least one embodiment, the notereminder system 10 can include a creation module 100, an obtainingmodule 101, a determination module 102, a reminding module 103, anavigation module 104 and a setting module 105. The function modules100-105 can include computerized codes in the form of one or moreprograms, which are stored in the storage device 11. The processor 12executes the computerized codes to provide functions of the functionmodules 100-105. A detailed description of the functions of the modules100-105 is given below in reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method forexecuting a note reminder. The example method 300 is provided by way ofexample, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. Themethod 300 described below can be carried out using the configurationsillustrated in FIGS. 1-3, for example, and various elements of thesefigures are referenced in explaining example method 300. Each blockshown in FIG. 3 represents one or more processes, methods orsubroutines, carried out in the exemplary method 300. Furthermore, theillustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of blockscan change according to the present disclosure. The exemplary method 300can begin at block 301. Depending on the embodiment, additional blockscan be added, others removed, and the ordering of the blocks can bechanged.

At block 31, the creation module creates a note in response to inputoperations on the input/output device. In the embodiment, the noteincludes a reminder event and a location associated with the reminderevent.

In the embodiment, the created note includes one or more elements fromtext information, picture information, audio information, videoinformation. In one embodiment, the electronic device 1 is provided withan electronic map. The electronic map is displayed on the input/outputdevice 13. A user applies a selection operation on the electronic map toselect a location, and an input operation on the input/output device 13to input content of the reminder event associated with the selectedlocation. The creation module 100 creates the note based on theselection operation and the input operation.

In other embodiments, the creation module 100 provides an input box inresponse to a note creation operation. The note creation operation canbe an operation to select a menu item for creating notes. The userapplies input operations in the input box to input a location andcontent of the reminder event associated with the location. The creationmodule 100 creates the note based on the input operations. The creationmodule 100 further stores the created notes in the storage device 11.

At block 32, the obtaining module obtains the current location of theelectronic device provide by the GPS device.

At block 33, the determination module determines whether a distancebetween the current location and the location associated with the noteis less than or equal to a predefined distance; if yes, the process goesto block 34; otherwise, the process goes back to block 32.

In one embodiment, the predefined distance is predefined according to aneed of a user. In the embodiment, the setting module 105 can set thepredefined distance in response to input operations of the user on theinput/output device 13. In one embodiment, the user can directly input adistance value via the input/output device 13. In other embodiments, theuser can select a travel method and set a travel time associated withthe travel method. For example, the user can select walk and set thewalking time to be 5 minutes. The user also can select a method oftravel from the group consisting of driving, taxi, bus, or subway andset the travel time to be 10 minutes. The setting module 105 can obtainthe predefined distance according to the travel method and the traveltime set by the user. For example, the setting module 105 obtains anaverage walking speed or an average speed of a selected vehicle from anetwork electronic map database. The setting module 105 calculates thepredefine distance according to the obtained average speed and the timeset by the user.

At block 34, the reminding module executes the note reminder.

In one embodiment, the reminding module 103 controls to display contentof the note on the input/output device 13 or sounds out the content ofthe note. In other embodiments, the reminding module 103 furthercontrols the electronic device 1 to vibrate or produce a particularsound.

At block 35, the navigation module generates a help interface to ask theuser of the electronic device whether navigation from the currentlocation to the location associated with the note is needed and displaysthe help interface on the input/output device. When a need of thenavigation from the current location to the location associated with thenote is received, the navigation module obtains data of the navigationfrom an electronic map server via internet and displays the data of thenavigation.

The data of the navigation includes, but is not limited to, a distance,a path, vehicles, time cost, and money cost from the current location tothe location associated with the note.

In one embodiment, the help interface includes two operation itemsincluding a “yes” and a “no”. When the item of “yes” is selected, therequest for providing the navigation is generated and the navigation isprovided. When the item of “no” is selected, the navigation from thecurrent location to the location associated with the note will not beprovided.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Manydetails are often found in the art and many such details are thereforeneither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of the present technology have been set forth in theforegoing description, together with details of the structure andfunction of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only,and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape,size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the presentdisclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broadgeneral meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore beappreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified withinthe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of a note reminder executable by at least one processor of an electronic device, the note comprising a reminder event and a location associated with the reminder event; the method comprising: obtaining a current location of the electronic device; determining whether a distance between the current location and the location associated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance; and executing the note reminder when the distance between the current location and the location associated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating the note associated with a location; and storing the note in the electronic device.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the notes associated with locations is created by: providing an electronic map; receiving a selection operation on the electronic map to select a location and an input operation for inputting content of the reminder event associated with the selected location; and creating the note based on the selection operation and the input operation.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the notes associated with locations is created by: providing an input box; receiving input operations in the input box to input a location and content of the reminder event associated with the input location; and creating the note based on the input operations.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating a help interface to ask whether navigation from the current location to the location associated with the note is needed; displaying the generated help interface; obtaining data of the navigation from an electronic map server via internet when receiving a need of the navigation from the current location to the location associated with the note; and displaying the data of the navigation.
 6. An electronic device, comprising: a processor; and a storage device that stores a note and one or more programs, the note comprising a reminder event and a location associated with the event, the programs which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: obtain a current location of the electronic device; determine whether a distance between the current location and the location associated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance; and execute the note reminder when the distance between the current location and the location associated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance.
 7. The electronic device according to claim 6, further the processor is caused to: create the note associated with a location; and store the note in the electronic device.
 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the notes associated with locations is created by: providing an electronic map; receiving a selection operation on the electronic map to select a location and an input operation for input content of the reminder event associated with the selected location; and creating the note based on the selection operation and the input operation.
 9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the notes associated with locations is created by: providing an input box; receiving input operations in the input box to input a location and content of the reminder event associated with the input location; and creating the note based on the input operations.
 10. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is caused to: generate a help interface to ask whether navigation from the current location to the location associated with the note is needed; display the generated help interface; obtain data of the navigation from an electronic map server via internet when receiving a need of the navigation from the current location to the location associated with the note; and display the data of the navigation.
 11. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, causes the processor to perform a method for a not reminding, wherein the method comprises: obtaining a current location of the electronic device; determining whether a distance between the current location and the location associated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance; and executing the note reminder when the distance between the current location and the location associated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance.
 12. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising creating the note associated with a location; and storing the note in the electronic device.
 13. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the notes associated with locations is created by: providing an electronic map; receiving a selection operation on the electronic map to select a location and an input operation for input content of the event associated with the selected location; and creating the note based on the selection operation and the input operation.
 14. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the notes associated with locations is created by: providing an input box; receiving input operations in the input box to input a location and content of the event associated with the input location; and creating the note based on the input operations.
 15. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising: generating a help to ask whether navigation from the current location to the location associated with the note is needed; displaying the generated help interface; obtaining data of the navigation from a electronic map server via internet when receiving a need of the navigation from the current location to the location associated with the note; and displaying the data of the navigation. 